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Personal info

Full name
BALLARD, Calvin Thomas
Date of birth
25 July 1918
Age
25
Place of birth
Victoria County, Texas
Hometown
Austin, Travis County, Texas

Military service

Service number
O-434031
Rank
Captain
Function
Navigator
Unit
705th Bombardment Squadron,
446th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
21 July 1944
Place of death
Auvergnepolder
Halsteren, The Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
H 14 18

Immediate family

Members
Ralph Ballard (father)
Edith B. (Langston) Ballard (mother)
Melburn Ballard (brother)
Erin Ballard (sister)
Burn Ballard (brother)
Leona M. Ballard (sister)
Billy Ballard (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-100315
Data
Type: B-24D
Nickname: Quivering Box
Destination: Munich, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 7250

More information

Capt Calvin T. Ballard graduated from Austin High School and attended the University of Texas before he joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army at Fort Sam Houston, Texas on 19 March 1941.

He served as Nose Turret Gunner on board B-24 #42-100315 "Quivering Box" on the 21 July 1944 mission to Munich, Germany. The Liberator was hit by Flak on return from the mission and Capt Ballard remained stuck in the nose turret. Its doors were jammed and he went down with the plane which exploded and hit the ground. Three crew members were taken prisoner, eight men were killed.

He was initially buried at the cemetery of Vlissingen, the Netherlands.

Source of information: Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, NARA, Missing Aircrew Report, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1920/1930 Census / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, American Air Musuem

Photo source: www.ancestry.com - Stephen F. Austin High School yearbook 1937, Men and Women in the Armed Forces from Travis County